FESTIVAL REVIEW
PIGT TO FIT
It is a little known fact that the Romans‘ enduring civilising influence over their conquered \ territories is the Bagpipe. 'l‘hey introduced and converted all European barbarian tribes to its sublime sound. Btit they never subdued a nation in the North of unruly Caledonia. So 'l‘he l’iets held out. until recently! The (iroiip. .see photo. was ptit together by Rod Paterson for his second.
ofintegrating l lamish Moores's small pipes. in a more complex sound . . . I did a tour with Hamish. we had been invited to play. with Jean Redpath and Alasdair Fraser. at a big Burns concert in Boston. and arranged some more dates together. right tip to Canada. Dick Lee played on my first album. and occasionally we‘ve performed as a duo. and Jack Evans is with me in the Easy Cltib . . . so it was relatively painless getting the music together for the albtiin‘. Reedsman Lee. already well known in the Edinburgh jazz scene in l)jango-lnspircd Swing ‘88. is achieving national recognition as a composer'arranger with his big hands.
He has always had his ears opened by other
music. even traditional jigs and reels. or the
‘ ‘s «é‘. ‘ TIMBILA The nirinbe r ol instruments played by 'l'imbila is y cry large. as are some oftlic instruments themselves; the world's only circular
marimba and the ‘snail's house kalimba‘ (see
not something you would hay c said about their audience w hen I saw them. and this isacr'yrrig
as they say. 'solo album’. essentially ‘to find a wav
coy erl. l.arge. how cy ci . is
shame for . ey en play irig lo
Fri iige Club
VENUE 2
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FESTIVAL MUSIC
compound rhythms of Eastern Europe: ‘l've played for ages in a little band where one ofthe members has a set of Lowland pipes. We love jamming away. I play the Sax. sometimes the Bass Clarinet. The sounds are so
complementary".
With l lamish. the theme is usually laid down by- the pipes. while Dick busies about with a saxophone. investigating corners ofthe tune. turning it over - but at other times working to set
parts.
In the album. Rod's renowned interpretation of the older Scots song gives way somewhat to his other sty le. a jazzy swing that runs through his self-penned songs. ‘11 can be seen as the natural extension of what could be traditional music. into more involved harmony and rhythm. It's not necccssarily improvisation that makes something jazzy. in that sense. we have a jazzy feel'. It would be too glib to call this contemporary Scottish music a "Folk Jazz fusion”. 'l‘hey cut a broad swathc through different idioms. even including some country rock piping next to a classic ballad. and all in an acoustic line-up.
"l‘he music shouldn't be too serious — the audience isn't.' Rod remembers. ‘l was introducing this ballad. over in that other city. saying that this song “'l‘he Bleacher l.ass o‘ ls'elvinhaiigh” was unusual in that it wasn’t ftill of blood and gore. and ended happily. not in fratricide or patrieide. "No." came the quick (ilasgow' voice "lt ends in Kelvincide”.‘
only tw cl\ cor llllcctt people. they are brilliant. 'l'hcy come lroiii Holland w here there isa tradition of musically eccentricgroiipstlike l'iltitl‘cls in the Sc\ critics. lot'c‘\;ttliPlL‘l.llltl.\\lltlsl their own style is idiosyncr'aticand distiiictiyc.‘l imbilaarc firmly in this tradition. far from bciiigotl-piitting. how ey c r. this eccentricity is appealing. 'l'lic music is quite accessible. and Is presented with enormous good humour . lhoiiglil think that the iclciciicc in the home programme io this being a family show is rather misleading 'l'imbilado not provide \\lll\llC\illltl lioolcl‘s.ttltl di'cssirig-iip-as«prrates musical ciitci tainnieiit for children. biit play an eclecticselectionol interesting. coiiiplcxand
e4(£3)
8.15pm
4 Extra teatime shows Thurs 8. Sats! The Pleasance VIN“ 33 4-0013“!
sometimes ey en bizarre music. 'l'hey w Ill regale you with Nicaraguan. Yiddish. Malawian and Albanian lolk songs. jazz standardsand original music. get you invon ed and excited. impress you w illi their technical expertise. and give you a chance to play their mighty marimba, (i() .-\.\'l) Slal: 'l'l ll'..\l. (lain (iiantl
lTimbila ( iilded Balloon Studio llieatle. 33.“
Cow gate. 23b 3151 l'ntil .‘~ Sept. ll..‘~ilprii. £3t£3l
ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE
l'IHlls'. Roots and traditional music is centred during the
l’estiy al round the very large number of performances in the Chambers Street Student l’nion. renamed for three
weeks the Acoustic Music Centre. It operates all day with meals. snacks. bars. exhibitions. drama. poetry and children‘s shows. and concerts in the two halls. In the spacious cellar bar area there are organised informal sessions with local musicians. basically the liasy Club. in residence to keep things moving. Admission to the concerts is by ticket from the box office. Admission to the .'\.\l( ‘ is free tip till Spin.
when it costs Sllpon weekdays and H .bllgii weekends, .Uli‘lttu'f Marni. completely tintraditional pianist. singer and songwriter. a Scots Randy Newman. hard driving blues. sweet hymns. btit always an icy lyric and a warm heart. great piano playing.
3‘) 3 lst.
l2.3ilam 1.30am. £3 ( £3). 1.1::14' Higgins .‘ylristerol the authentic traditional style of tinnaccompanied song. Nth. .‘stlth. (iroiips playing include the McCalmansQSth 27th. 7.30pm. £3; ( ‘apcrcaillic. the leading ( iaelic band. 20th. 3tlih. 7.3(lpm. £35”; Seannacliie. with a new album. Take Note jiist released. 25m 23th. lll.3()ji. £2.50. and 31st and 1st. Sfillpm. £3.50; and the well known faces of some of lidiiiburgh‘s long established musicians. in a new line tip. mixing in modern styles. Absent l-‘ricnds. :(itlt. Iqtli. 3nd. 3rd. 8.30pm. £3.50.
HIOTOUS ASSEMBLY
I Elsewhere in the Fringe there are some tine concerts. The Assembly Rooms, George Street. has the wonderful Amampondo. a riot of Black Southern Atrican music. costume. rhythm and dance, till
' the 30th, 11.45pm,£5
l (£4).
QUEENS HALL
I The Queen‘s Hall is the venue for cult Californian blues busker, ol' man Ted Hawkins, with echoes of Sam Cook in his smooth singing style, 28th, 29th. At the end of the Festival Eric Bogle plays one night on the 2nd. The Australia based Scotsman has written some at the most played songsinthe contemporary ‘tolli' repertoire. He is responsible torThe Band Played Waltzing Matilda, recorded by scores at singers. Two concerts on the same night. 3rd. by the messianic Breton harp playerand singerAlan Stivell and his acoustic band, sees the last oi the Queen's Hall events.
THE VENUE
Down inthe dark shadow of Calton Road lies The Venue. where the musicis essentiallylunctional. The function isto have agood time. Sitting room is minimal. dancing isabetter idea. The greatTex Mex accordion star. Flaco Jiminez returns soon after his visitwith Ry Cooder. thistime leading his own song and dance band. on the 29th and 30th. 8pm. £3.
ALTARED STATES
St Johns. the church venue atthe West End otPrinces Street. accomodates the leading Scotstraditional group. an artful blend of pipes. harp. tlute. fiddle and song. the Whistlebinkies. 29th. 30th. 2nd. 3rd. 6.30pm. 23(22). 3rd also 1pm. £3: andthe Andeantlute pipes and charangos otEdinburgh's favourite Bolivian band. Rumillajta. 26th. 27th. 6.30pm. £4.
TICKETS £4
GRETA GARBO IN EDINBURGH SIDEWAYS GLANCE
’Stylish, beautifully performed, this show is unmissable. . .’
Alex Renton 'l‘l lli l.\'l)l-.l’l{.\'l)l5..\"l
Arte Livre offers a night of electric excitements.’ Arinalena .‘ylacAfee l{\'l’..\'l.\'( i S'l .-\.\'l ).»\Rl)
lnstitut liraneais d'licosse (venue 55), 13 Randolph Crescent. 13—20 Augat lllpm: Royal Scots Cltib (venue 37), 30 .-\bercromb\' Place. 22 Aug~3 Sept (not Sun) at 4pm ' PHONE ()31 557 5091
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'l'hc rm Zo Aug "1' Sept ms 29